I just tested positive for herpes 2 although I never, ever had vaginal herpes. I have had cold sores and fever blisters all my life. It has been documented in medical books about herpes in the colon and that herpes can cause UC. I took Valtrex for a week, I felt reborn! My stools weren't perfect, but I felt I was totally healed. My blood stopped completely.

Look at this article

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease herpes simplex virus infection has been described as a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Here we present the case of a 35-year old woman with an exacerbation of ulcerative colitis caused by herlpes simplex virus infection (HSV-2). The diagnosis was confirmed histologically following subtotal colectomy. After intravenous treatment with aciclovir for 2 weeks postoperative hematochezia stopped. Herpes simplex virus colitis is a rare but potentially fatal complication of immunosuppressive treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Prompt diagnosis and efficient antiviral therapy are mandatory to improve prognosis.

yes my doc now belives it's herpes in my colon. No one will probably admit to herpes 2, but I want to help other. Honestly, I never had a out break in my vaginal area ever and my girlfriend has the same thing and it all started with a rash on blister on our butt cheek which I was told was shingles. Our cases our not related, but it was interesting to find that we had it in the same spot on our butts and we've always had cold sores since we were little. She's been my friend for the past 10 years. We never told each other about our rash on our butts, which were a cluster of blisters that look exactly like the my colon pictures of my uc after my colonoscopy. It usually appears when I'm under a lot of stress! 3 years I'm been researching and trying to find the cause, this is truly it. Has anyone thought of this?

First scope 7/05 should no UC, but I was bleeding with urgency. Sigmoid showed UC at rectum, 2nd colonoscopy & Endoscopy 7/27/07, Left sided colitis and near cecum (mild)

It could be the trigger, but remember that once UC's been triggered, you'll have those flares plus maybe the herpes flares. One can trigger the other since they live in the same area.

Valtrex is hard on the liver...make sure the doc has you checked often for raised liver enzymes if you're on it a long time.

You could consider to take L-Lysine....

I've always thought there is a herpes connection to UC...there are many kinds of herpes viruses which we're exposed to continually, and how it works on the immune system may just be a trigger.. Now which one exactly is a culprit...??

This post is interesting but also a little confusing to me, miracles. Herpes zoster is not the same as herpes simplex, either 1 or 2, and I'm not sure what the relationship of any of the identified herpes is to the subject in the article, the point of the study, whether it's anecdotal, or how herpes might relate in general to UC.

That said, I think there could very well be a link for some form of herpes to UC. I occasionally get lesions (which are more on my hip) that both my doc and I think are herpes, even though we haven't been able to get confirmation from the lab. I've read that once in the system, herpes can follow some large trunk nerves and erupt along them, which explains the location of the lesions. My experience is that it can also effect my whole sciatic nerve so it wouldn't surprise me AT ALL if it also effects the colon and therefore UC.

My hunch is that there are more kinds of herpes that haven't yet been identified and they may or may not be an std... if may be the ones you get on your mouth and they have travelled somehow. They also must be related to the immune system, and UC is autoimmune... somehow I think it's linked but how?

It's great that Valtrex is working for you. I've never tried it, because I don't want to take one more pill unless necessary. I use zovirax, though. So far I haven't noticed any connection, but I'll try to see if there are any if I have another break out.

I can say that I also have had cold sore like lesions in the mouth as far back as I can remember. I had them bad as a kid, and they were definitely related to stress, and painful as hell. I noticed as I grew older that they became very rare for me to get, and I would only get them at all if I was pretty sick with the flu or something.

Now I still almost never get them - except - when I was hospitalized in the ER during DX with UC I had 4 or 5 of them in a row along my lower lip the day after my endoscopy/colonoscopy.

Weird. In my book, definitely a connection between that and UC - for me at least.

Can you tell me, have any of you had these and also had mono? The mono I got in college, I felt as if it almost killed me I was soooo weak.Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 6/2006 at age 26 after sudden E.R. visit

~Pancolitis (Mild to Moderate)

~I had Mono in 2000

On Colazal 3x3/day; Folic Acid 1mg; Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc combo

In remission about 2-3 months after E.R. but not back to normal!

~Interested in finding a cure/making sense out of U.C. and philosophical and psychological aspects of UC and "Stress" and Personal Development issues with Chronic Illnesses.

Yes before I was diagnosed with UC I had a break out of blister on my upper lip. I never thougt of putting the two together b/c I was already bleeding at the time. My friend is a RN in her book it says you can get herpes in your rectum. Aren't we told that UC starts in the rectum and works it way up? Well I'm on Valtrex, a maintenance dose we'll see how I do after a month.

First scope 7/05 should no UC, but I was bleeding with urgency. Sigmoid showed UC at rectum, 2nd colonoscopy & Endoscopy 7/27/07, Left sided colitis and near cecum (mild)

My doctor can't confirm if it's herpes in the colon, i would have to see a infectious disease specialist, have a biopsy of the ulcer for herpes zosters. I was just thinking how come I feel so good on Valtrex, my bleeding stops and my aches and pains are gone and my gut/colon is healing? Could it be herpes? I was finding articles linking herpes causing UC b/c it's never talked about here on the forum. What do you think Quincy, why do I feel so good and my symptoms are clearing up using Valtrex? Also, when I talked to my doc about never having a vaginal problem, just a rash on my butt, she said b/c someone who had it was could NOT have been active and you can still get it. It's like a silent disease. It's terrible to find this out, but then you get this AH HA moment when you take a antiviral med and it's working. Crazy, but you have to think there's a link for me. Not for everyone, but for me.

First scope 7/05 should no UC, but I was bleeding with urgency. Sigmoid showed UC at rectum, 2nd colonoscopy & Endoscopy 7/27/07, Left sided colitis and near cecum (mild)

This is really interesting. My daughter does NOT want her mother coming over anymore because she is so cavalier about her cold sores on her lip. This can be transferred by kitchen objects like drinking from the same cup or using the same toothbrush etc. You can get it in your eye - ocular herpes, this can result in scarring and needing a transplant.

I got UC around 36 when I was married to her. That does not fit the data very well, it is normally by 20 or after 50.

Before my first flare I had canker sores in my mouth. The dentist commented they were the largest he had ever seen. I stopped getting them and never had a blister outside like people with herpes, like my ex-wife.

Why is it not possible that I did get it from her and it manifested in my lower GI ?

I don't think herpes simplex 1 or 2 would be the culprit unless one was infected and had anal sex or obvious contact with the area that was open to cause an infection. The tests would have come back obviously herpes 1 or 2.

But, there are other herpes viruses that could be picked up...systemic ones, for example. They would definitely put a severe strain on the immune system and trigger autoimmune disease, especially if there was another assult on the digestive tract itself.

Is your ex concerned regarding when she has an outbreak?Sharing things like toothbrushes or drinking from the same cups is something that should never be encouraged regardless if one has herpes or not.

Maybe encourage her to get on an antiviral when she's in an outbreak. maybe she just doesn't know how to prevent spreading, etc.

Sharing towels is a concern as well...give her lots of straws when she's there..and paper towels

quincy said...I don't think herpes simplex 1 or 2 would be the culprit unless one was infected and had anal sex or obvious contact with the area that was open to cause an infection. The tests would have come back obviously herpes 1 or 2.

But, there are other herpes viruses that could be picked up...systemic ones, for example. They would definitely put a severe strain on the immune system and trigger autoimmune disease, especially if there was another assult on the digestive tract itself.

Is your ex concerned regarding when she has an outbreak?Sharing things like toothbrushes or drinking from the same cups is something that should never be encouraged regardless if one has herpes or not.

Maybe encourage her to get on an antiviral when she's in an outbreak. maybe she just doesn't know how to prevent spreading, etc.

Sharing towels is a concern as well...give her lots of straws when she's there..and paper towels

q

I was the pitcher not the catcher so the only thing that went reverse into my colon were rectal meds and I never did that until years after the breakup desperate in a flare.

Which tests do you refer too ? I have had a colonoscopy, and stool tests and vanilla blood tests - CBC. I am not aware of ever being tested of herpes as I do not believe I have it - only now I wonder if the "UC" is actually blisters inside me.

She was a strikingly beautiful woman but she got by on her looks not her brains. I printed out how it can be transmitted, I was trying to calm my daughter by showing that it cannot be transferred via objects, that it would die in open air -oops that backfired. First my daughter learns that cold sores = herpes, then she learns mommy in our gourmet kitchen putting all the dishes away is a bad idea while having a blister. She btw has had them since a child and not from her dating guy after guy. I tried to calm my daughter by saying I never got it in the 9 years together nor has she. However my ex has a cavalier attitude about life these days, broke, bankrupt, coach surfing from friend to friend. I still give her 600 in child support and she bugs me for more even though the child is here with me 7x24.

She rejects common sense protocols to avoid transmission and laughs it off sending my daughter into a fit. I am spending a lot of time trying to get her certified as an optician and another oops - turns out you can get herpes of the cornea, scarring, replacement ( blindness ).

Her trademark is to blame you rather than take responsibility and act like an adult. I tired to help her but she sat out back and downed wine and cussed rather than accept a workable plan when here to calm our daughter and salvage the relationship.

This is nuts I want her stabilized with an income then I stop taking her calls. Endless aggravation.

That's too bad that she doesn't respect that others don't want to get cold sores. My mother gets them and she always acts like it's no big deal. I've made it this long without cold sores, it's the last thing I need to deal with. I have enough problems. One time my mom had a cold sore and she tried to drink out of my beverage container. I couldn't believe it. When I asked her why she would do it, she said "this isn't contagious right now". Her belief is that it's only contactable during the first few days of getting it. Maybe she's right but I don't care, I don't want to take a risk like that and she shouldn't try to pursuede me to share a drink with a person with a cold sore. What's the world coming to when your own mother ties to give you a cold sore??? lol Funny to know someone else has these problems.Co-moderator: Ulcerative ColitisDiagnosed with Pancolitis, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux & Migraines. Battling Extreme Exhaustion.Currently: 6mp (25mg) + Lialda (2400mg) + Canasa (1g PM)

nssg...lol, your mom is dead wrong. Actually...it can be contagious till it's completely healed with absolutely NO trace. She probably reinfects herself with her own make-up and lipstick. There's no excuse for anyone to be that stupid, or is it passive aggressive, regarding illness?

agwuc...your wife sounds like a narccissist. I'd probably be like your daughter if I had a mom like that.

I just read about the ocular herpes. My cat has feline viral rhinopneumonitis (FVR) and her eye tears at times. I didn't realise that the occular one for humans is a simplex virus.

If you suspect you have herpes in your colon, I would assume it would be more like CMV...which many of us have been exposed to sometime in our lives. You can ask the doc to check you for it. But, I doubt you would have herpes simplex 1 spread from your wife to your colon...unless she has CMV and doesn't know it..spread through saliva/urine/feces..and you know how easy it is to pick that up from anywhere.

therearemiracles, I'm so glad you feel better on the Valtrex. Herpes outbreaks can make you feel awful all over, no doubt, but it seems weird to me that it would cause gastric upset.

I have herpes I on my mouth and get outbreaks rarely these days. I had one this summer that took me by surprise and I had to call in and ask for valtrex. I used to have the topical lotion that I applied directly to the blister, but most docs these days think the oral med is much better. Anyway, I took it as prescribed and it gave me awful, awful upper GI pain and diarrhea. I went into a two-week mini flare with joint pain and everything. That's what ultimately got me back to my GI and scheduled for a scope! I still don't know whether the Valtrex triggered the flare or a flare triggered the blister. When I finally got scoped 6 weeks later there was no inflammation found anywhere and my GI declared victory, LOL.

When I got shingles 10 years ago I diagnosed myself because I am so familiar with that tingly achy feeling a herpes blister gives me.

notsosicklygirl said...That's too bad that she doesn't respect that others don't want to get cold sores. My mother gets them and she always acts like it's no big deal. I've made it this long without cold sores, it's the last thing I need to deal with. I have enough problems. One time my mom had a cold sore and she tried to drink out of my beverage container. I couldn't believe it. When I asked her why she would do it, she said "this isn't contagious right now". Her belief is that it's only contactable during the first few days of getting it. Maybe she's right but I don't care, I don't want to take a risk like that and she shouldn't try to pursuede me to share a drink with a person with a cold sore. What's the world coming to when your own mother ties to give you a cold sore??? lol Funny to know someone else has these problems.

Thanks for sharing - apparently they get so used to having it they think nothing of it.

agwuc...your wife sounds like a narccissist. I'd probably be like your daughter if I had a mom like that.

I just read about the ocular herpes. My cat has feline viral rhinopneumonitis (FVR) and her eye tears at times. I didn't realise that the occular one for humans is a simplex virus.

If you suspect you have herpes in your colon, I would assume it would be more like CMV...which many of us have been exposed to sometime in our lives. You can ask the doc to check you for it. But, I doubt you would have herpes simplex 1 spread from your wife to your colon...unless she has CMV and doesn't know it..spread through saliva/urine/feces..and you know how easy it is to pick that up from anywhere.

How old is your daughter?

q

She is absolutely a narccissist. Never asks me how my UC is or how my job is going - it is all about her all the time.

CMV symptoms are not helpful, yes one would need a test to know. I do not think I do however I never had UC until I was with her at age around 42. I just wondered if there was any link or if anyone ever tried to link them since they do not know what UC is caused by.

My daughter will be 12 on 12/21/2012 when the world ends She was born on the winter solstice and the millenium.

I read your post as well as others related I had to write. First off I am sorry for anyone who suffers from stomach pain/ herpes of any kind. I wouldn't wish that pain on my worst enemy. I wanted to share what I experienced and maybe someone has experienced similar events. Ok it was 2010 I had lost 30lbs within 3-5 months exercise/diet pretty hard core. I started at 130lbs not my intention to drop that much but I noticed my stomach getting upset every time I tried to eat carbs. I felt nauseated. Well it was Aug 2010 I was laying in bed with my then 5 yr old and I felt my body weaken almost like someone let the air out of my "tires". Sometime went by and I noticed I wasn't able and simply not getting the urge to have a BM I wasn't able to pass gas it was close to a week when I had made several trips to the urgent care and they all prescribed laxatives as if I hadn't tried everything my house looked like a drug store. I wasn't eating barely could get out of bed my stomach felt like it was going to blow in a real way I was scared. I would go every day almost to see a doctor I was desperate for relief one said it was stress and anxiety and sent me away with Xanax. When I finally got a doctor to take me seriously she ordered x ray and referral to a GI doctor I had 3 golf sized hemroids in my rectum and something called H pylori aka ulcers in my stomach. My health took a rapid decline I just knew something was "off" not right more than what they were finding I could feel something brewing in my body. I couldn't even talk I had to have family take care of my son it was bad. I went to ER told them about my diagnosis and when they checked my rectum they found nothing. No way were they "hiding"? I went to my mom's went to bed and felt my body shutting down. I woke up to what I call and remember to be hell in my stomach it felt like I got punched 3 times in my stomach 123 then FIRE like razors and gasoline met a match my step dad said I was clawing my face crying in agony. My mom gave me morphine. Every test came back negative except for herpes I had never had a cold sore or VC aginal Breakout. I kept telling anyone who would listen that I needed meds and I must've suffered for days n weeks unbearable stomach burning and feeling like death would be welcomed I just needed to pray I never did so much I said god if it's my time take me just make up your mind already. I was given acyclovir and im not kidding the second I swallowed it it felt like iceicles flowing through my intestines sweet relief. Doctors kept saying no way it's herpes you can only get on lips mouth eye vaginally. Well all I know is I took acyclovir and inch by inch 2 years later I regained my life. I think I would have died if I hadn't taken it. I say 2 years because through this I was basically in a "coma" for a year because my immune was weak and I had no vitamins in my body I couldn't walk I was in bed for a year went from wheel chair crutches to walking again. I lost my home my car everything because I got so sick. To this day if you ask what happened doctor will say it was an ulcer or hg emmorroids because factually that's all the evidence they have to go on. But I'm sure I had a herpes outbreak. It nearly killed me. It's been 6 years and when my stomach gets empty I feel a burning sensation not even close to what I experienced before but it's a reminder of what I went through and hope I never go through it again. I couldn't . It bothers me to think that doctor after doctor shut me down when I shared my theory. Want to add I was also diagnosed with different part of my body being paralyzed for example a vocal cord is now paralyzed. Very weird but I've lost some feeling in some places my lower back feels numb sometimes. I saw every kind of doctor and got no where. I just hope nobody goes through this as I did it was a nightmare and changed my life. If you or anyone you know has experienced similar things please e mail me. I still feel like a crazy person if I had a nickel every time I was told " it's all in your head"" you can't get herpes in your stomach" I'd be rich. Thanks for reading

Doubt it would be that, it'd be too easy to show up from the colonoscopy biopsies. Not only that but every UC person would come back either HSV-1 or HSV-2 positive. I for one know that I developed UC at the age of 13 and did not have any HSV, confirmed by blood tests, and was subsequently infected with coldsores by an ex-partner at the age of 21 and have experienced them since. I notice they can exacerbate my UC but are definitely not the cause.Mild-Mod UC - diagnosed 1995; antiphospholipidsyndrome - diagnosed 2014; painful bladder - diagnosed 2003Meds: Mezavant ; warfarin

You can have HSV 1&2 from your lips to your anus and in any crevice such as your buttocks. It can be transmitted via an array of methods. And no one is immune. I'm still researching herpes zoster, which is caused by the chicken pox virus, and which like the other herpes viruses resides in your body, and is incurable- at this time.

Oreolover123, I am having the same problems. I see where you have been on a regimen of acyclovir and you have had success. I have an appt with a gastro doctor in two weeks but I'm afraid I won't last that long. I have been so weak....almost unable to take care of myself. I have been having colon problems for the past year and now have to live on laxatives to have a bm. I am scared to death that there is no medication that can help me. I cannot live the way I feel. I have often wondered if I have cancer or some other debilitating disease but my blood work comes back negative. I was married for over 30 years and never had another partner other than my husband. He cheated and now I am left with the "residual" of that affair. We are divorced but I feel like I have been handed a life sentence for his infidelity....I am so glad i saw your testimony. It gives me the ammunition I need when I go see my doctor. Prayers for your continued healing....

Hi , this post is so old. I wanted to share I had nerve pain on my buttcheck, mostly right side, like a rug burn feel, sensitive to touch or wear underwear and there's nothing you can see, I popped a valtrex and with hours (4) the pain goes away. I think it's like shingles about to start. I have had a rash before in my 20's before.

Also, there's a doctor in Michigan treating chronic fatigue syndrome being treating with Vatrex and very successful . Thought I would share that.UC since '05, now in '15 Mayo Clinic say Chrons/colitis and DX with chronic Lyme's in '10. No biologics work. Took rafaximin for SIBO, worked awesome! Taking asacol HD.